Obituary of Gene Hastings

No visitation Gene Hastings Born Orville Haven Hastings Jr. December 17, 1939 in Spokane Wa, to Orville Haven Sr. and Emma Louise (Cuff) Hastings, passed away at the age of 67, August 30th, 2007 at Providence Hospital, in Centralia, WA. Orville attended public school in Spokane, WA and later in Round Lake, Minnesota, and was nicknamed “Gene” while serving in the U.S. Navy. He married Verrol Jessie Ann Fowler and had 3 children Sharlyn “Shari” in 1961, Steven in 1962 and Keith in 1966. He was honorably discharged in 1964 and later went to work for Boeing in Seattle. They relocated to Toledo, Wa where Gene started a career with Weyerhauser, raised his family, and retired after 27 years of service. With his kids always his priority and avid outdoorsman, you would typically find he and his family roaming the hills, valleys, lakes and river banks of southwest Washington, and beyond. He found his passion in bass fishing as one of the founders and first President of the Mt. St. Helens Bass Masters fishing club, in 1991. He was a self taught, and skilled custom fishing rod builder and even ran a small business, shipping rods all over the world, in the early nineties. Over the years he won numerous Bass tournaments, but what was most important to him was his fishing family, they know better than most of his love and friendship. In 2001 he remarried June “Marilyn” Butler, to start the next phase and adventure of his life. In her he found the friend, confidant, and fishing buddy, that made his life complete and wonderful. A coach, teacher, mentor, fisherman, hunter, husband, grandpa, great grandpa, brother, extraordinary father and true friend to all, but, what was really important to Gene, was kids and fishing. He would gladly spend his time, money and talents to not only put together fishing rods for any child that showed an interest, but would even make time to take them and their parents fishing. It is out of this love of kids and fishing that the family requests that in lieu of flowers please visit any Washington Mutual Bank branch and make a donation to the benevolent account “Gene Hastings Fishing for a Lifetime”. All funds raised will be used to host a summer time youth fishing experience in southwest Washington. Gene is survived by his wife Marilyn, three children Sharlyn (Hastings) and husband Levi Bussanich, Steven and wife Rosario, Keith and wife Frances, stepson Jhon Butler and wife Michelle, siblings Janet Gaudio, Louise McWells, James, Stanley, Donald, 9 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and members of his logging and fishing families. He is preceded in death by, his Mother, Father and two siblings Jean and Delbert. We all feel a sense of peace knowing Dad is fishing in Heaven with Jesus now, but we will forever miss him. A memorial service will be held 1:00pm, Saturday September 29th, 2007 in Centralia, WA at the Church of the Nazarene, 1119 W. First St., Centralia, WA 98531, all are welcome.